Well, as you can tell, this edition of Do-Overs and High-Fives is just a tad late. I couldn’t figure out why it was taking me so long to sit myself down and do this one. It’s not like there’s any lack of material. I’ve got plenty of items for each list.
But I knew it was going to be my last one for the year. This is the last item on my to-do list for DreamGarden before I close up shop for the holidays.
So I had delusions of grandeur- like maybe instead of just the do-overs and high-fives for the week, I’d make a list of do-overs and high-fives for the year.
But no matter how hard I tried, it just wasn’t happening.
Then I read this post by Jen Lauden. If you don’t know Jen, you should. I want to be just like her when I grow up (as long as I can still be me!). Anyway, she wrote about those nice tidy year end lists.
I’ll let Jen speak for herself:
Ah, I love lists: their trim allure, their sense of putting the year to rest, their bow-like promise.
But try as I might to write one, it is not to be.
I would need a different mind.
A pattern finding tidy mind.
Oh, and I would need a memory, too.
Or at least, a notes of some kind.
So no list.
I almost cried when I read this. First because it made me realize that I’m not the only one who can’t seem to remember what she did last week, never mind what happened way back in February or March.
But also because I also feel the yearning for a different kind of mind sometimes. A mind that functions in an orderly, tidy way.
A mind that remembers things, or at least takes notes. And remembers where to find the notes.
Realizing I have none of these brings a certain sadness because making these lists is a little like recalling the jewels we’ve collected over the year. Remembering when and where they were found. The effort or ease with which they were won.
Acknowledging how little of the last year I can conjure up, even when I know it had lots of activity, plenty of achievements and way more lessons learned than I can count is a little disturbing to me.
As I’ve been reading all the ‘year end’ lists that others have made, and trying to make my own, I feel as though I’m reaching into my pocket to pull out my offerings only to realize that my pocket has a hole, and that only a few of my treasures remain.
Part of me is tempted to beat myself up for being so careless and losing these hard-won jewels.
On the other hand, I know that these jewels have somehow left their imprint on me, and those who were part of their creation or discovery. Whether or not I can put my fingers on them, they are still out there shining.
I also realized that part of the reason for starting the Do-Overs and High-Fives in the first place was to have a place to record these moments for myself. And to give other moms a place to record their own moments.
So here we go with this week’s Do-Overs and High-Fives.
Do-Overs
Jamming too much stuff in!
A recurring them, I know. The last couple of weeks have been jam packed with stuff. All good- but just too much.
No respect for the learning curve
Another long-standing issue for me. I had several new things on my plate last week, things I had never done before and didn’t know how to do. I love learning new things, and would almost always choose to do something new rather than do the same thing over again. But I forget sometimes how much time learning takes. Especially when it involves computers or other sort of technology.
Made for quite a few late nights!
Too many late nights= not enough exercise
The combination of DH being out of town and the late nights meant that I only got one run in this week and no boot-camp. If I don’t get my workout in first thing, it’s way too easy to let the day take me over and never get outside for a run or even a walk. Especially in the winter, if I don’t get my quota of sunlight, I get cranky!
High-Fives
Teleclass!
My first ever teleclass was a blast. After so many years of teaching in person, it was kind of wild to teach without being able to see people’s faces. It was an interesting experience to talk without being able to see the looks of confusion or comprehension to know whether I was going too fast, too slow, or needed to stop and ask for questions. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and get something useful out of it so that was just what I was hoping for. I was never worried about doing the content, but getting all the technical pieces in place was the real challenge. The good news was that I got it all figured out, with minimal head-banging.
Now that I know how to do this, you can expect to see many more teleclasses coming soon!
Divine Divas
My lovely local networking group had our first annual holiday party. It was a great time, and gave me a reason to work up a mini-brochure. Short deadlines mean perfection has to take a hike.
Spaciousness
Somehow in the middle of all this insanity, I managed to carve out times of spaciousness. Did I mention that my DH was away most of the week? I knew that AJ would need some mom-time before I went out and left him with a sitter for the Divas party, so I committed to having everything ready before I picked him up from school. I had my brochures ready, my contribution to the food and drink, even my outfit picked out. He ended up going to a friend’s house after school so I actually had a little time to chill out and then could give him my full attention when he finally did come home.
Christmas Presents Shipped!
Everything that needed to be sent got sent. I even managed to remember where I’d stashed the presents that we’d bought way back in the spring. The cards are still a work in progress- but I’m OK with that.
Music!
For the second year, I got to play with my son and his fellow violin students at their annual holiday concert. My clarinet and I joined another mom on recorder to form the woodwind section! The students were amazing. Really accomplished musicians and it was a blast to join them.
And that’s all for now!
I’ll be taking the next couple of weeks off from the blog. Until after the new year, I’ll be spending more time with my family and less time with the computer. I’ll also be doing some reflection on where I’ve been in 2009 and where I’d like to go in 2010. I have lots of ideas for blog posts, classes, workshops, etc. for next year. The big challenge will be figuring out what NOT to do!
If you’d like to share some highlights from your week (or your year!), please let us know in the comments!
